This post will be sharing ten of the best Retinol serums for all skin types. Most of which you can get at the drugstore.
One of the biggest challenges people with oi to combination skin have is finding the best Retinol serum that is non-greasy and sinks right into their skin on application. Naturally, people that use oil-based serums such as The Ordinary Retinols will struggle despite the affordability. Unfortunately, with the state of the beauty industry, you have to be ready to invest in a quality Retinol serum.
Choosing the best Retinol serum for your skin type can be tricky. This is because a lot of brands are shady. They are not transparent with the percentage used. Some of them also try to pass off the weakest Retinoid derivatives as the real thing. So, you have to be really observant and do your research. There’s honestly no excuse for being scammed with the wealth of skincare information available at your disposal.
It goes without saying that two key factors can help you choose the best product to buy. They include:
- Full transparent disclosure of the percentage of Retinol used. The standard is between 0.2 – 1%. A few brands go up to 2.5%.
- The reputation of the companies behind the product. Pharmaceutical companies are known to have the resources for extensive research to formulate effective products. But that doesn’t mean they are devoid of shady practices because they are. Some of which try to pass off Retinyl Palmitate as Retinol.
Now that we have an idea of what to look out for, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best Retinol serums on the market out of hundreds of them. Here are ten of them that made it.
Here are the 10 Best Retinol Serums Worth Your Money.
It’s worth the reminder that Retinol is a derivative of Retinoic Acid, also known as Vitamin A; the gold standard for anti-ageing. Retinol needs to be converted twice before it gets to the end product;
Retinyl Ester >>>> Retinol >>>> Retinaldehyde >>>> Retinoic Acid
It is important to ensure that you’re not buying anything less than Retinol to avoid wasting time and money.
Without further ado, let’s get into them!
The Inkey List Retinol Serum – 0.5%
To kick start, the list is the one and only brand trying to compete with The Ordinary. Most people that can’t stand some of the products from The Ordinary replace them with The Inkey List primarily because of their similar price points. Most popular are Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide and Retinol. The Inkey List offers 1% Retistar Retinol (whatever that means) combined with 0.5% Granactive Retinoid, Peptides, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E. This is a decent formulation that is lightweight enough to work across all skin types without the greasiness.
Cerave Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
This is a drugstore Retinol serum that is pretty underrated, which many people don’t know about. This is mainly because its availability is limited to the US. While Cerave doesn’t disclose the actual percentage of Retinol, it is, by all means, a decent serum. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide and their signature three essential Ceramides, it is the dream combination for those with oily skin who want to tackle early signs of fine lines and wrinkles. If you’re also struggling with hyperpigmentation, I suggest you go for the Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum.
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Serum
I used this serum last year, and I honestly cannot believe I forgot to review it separately. But I’ll be repurchasing it and sharing my review this time. This product is one of the loveliest products I used last year. It reminds me so much of the cosmetic elegance of Korean and Japanese products that I use. Plus, it is well-formulated and straight to the point with the essential Niacinamide and Peptides. If you prefer to simplify your routine, you can choose the Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer. My only issue with this product is that the percentage of Retinol is not disclosed. But since it is under the Procter & Gamble umbrella, I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt. They recently released the Olay Retinol 24 Max, which probably has slightly higher Retinol. But most importantly, did I mention that it is also fragrance-free?
La Roche Posay Retinol B3 Serum
Many people think that La Roche Posay is quite pricey for a drugstore brand. Personally, I don’t really use their serums, but for a French Pharmacy brand as big as they are, there’s no doubt that a lot of research and resources go into formulating effective products. This is why I think their products are worth the investment. Unfortunately, the percentage of Retinol isn’t disclosed, but with Niacinamide, Adenosine, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E, we have a solid Retinol serum on our hands.
Paula’s Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
This list of the best Retinol serums will not be complete without this one. I remember using this product and how much it stung my face when I used it too much. This pretty much proved how strong and effective this product is. When you’re done playing around with other Retinol serums that are likely not up to 1%, get this one, and it will sustain you for about six months. Ease into it and watch your skin transform. You’re also free to be lazy with your routine as this is packed with Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides, Ceramides and a bunch of soothing plant extracts, including Licorice Root and Allantoin. You honestly don’t need to layer it with anything else.
L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Pure Retinol
Another Big Pharma Retinol serum is this one by L’Oreal. They have a few of them, so you have to be careful and ensure you’re choosing the one with actual 0.3% Retinol and not a weaker derivative. This has a simple formulation of Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E. If you feel like your skin is sensitive to specific ingredients like Niacinamide or even Peptides, you can get this simple one without them.
ROC Retinol Deep Wrinkle Serum
This brand just popped out of from nowhere with all their anti-ageing products. Apparently, if the reviews are anything to go by, these products are pretty compelling. This serum is a powerhouse packed with Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E, Zinc, and Retinol. Vitamin C and Retinol in one product? Not all surprising, but pretty interesting if you ask me. But this doesn’t mean you can use this serum during the day. Use a separate Vitamin C serum with your SPF in the morning and this serum at night.
Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum
Versed is another drugstore brand that gain popularity in the last few years. If you are considering the drugstore options for Retinol, this one is worth trying. Formulated with Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Vitamin E and Bakuchiol, this is a great hydrating serum for those with combination skin. If their website is anything to go by, they claim this serum is targeted at first-time users of Retinol, so I’m guessing it’s probably 0.2%.
Skinceuticals Retinol 0.5%
If you’re impressed by the gold standard Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, their Retinol serums are also worth trying. While the formulation is super simple as they claim it is a very concentrated product, I would trust it simply because of the reputation of the brand. They have the best Vitamin C serum on the market and I’m sure their Retinol serums which you’ll also find in 0.3% and 1% will also perform well.
Vichy LiftActiv Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate.
Similar to Skinceuticals, Vichy also has a solid Vitamin C serum which is always recommended by dermatologists. Plus, the brand has L’Oreal as its parent company with sister brands such as La Roche Posay and Skinceuticals. With Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid and Adenosine, this also has a simple formulation.
Finally,
As you can see, ther are so many options when it comes to Retinol serums. Don’t force yourself to use a product you don’t enjoy just because it is cheap. Skincare is self-care. Find one within your budget and stick to it.
If there are three products that you should not compromise on quality, it is your Vitamin C, Retinol and Sunscreen.
